The more I learn about aronia berries, the more impressed I am. For example, after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, these berries were used by Russians to curb the effects of radiation. The treatment was helpful.
The reason is that aronia berries are able to accelerate the excretion of heavy metals and radioactive elements from the body.
That’s not all they do… which is why today, I’d like to revisit this miracle berry and let you know why you’ll want to keep an eye out for it in your grocery store…
The richest source of anthocyanins yet discovered
Aronia berries come from the chokeberry shrub family, and are also called chokeberries (but not chokecherries, which appears to be a common labeling mistake).
Aronia berries are small, quite similar to blueberries in size and shape, but have a deeper, darker blackish-blue color. And like blueberries, they can be plucked right off the bush and eaten fresh, though they’re not nearly as sweet as other bush-plucked plants. In fact, they’re pretty tart.
The berry is native to North America, and was a favorite of American Indians, but was long ago brought to Europe and has become popular elsewhere, too.
Aronia berries have particularly high levels of polyphenolic pigment and antioxidants. In fact, the ORAC value of the aronia berry (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is one and a half times the value of black currants and cranberries and three times that of blueberries and blackberries.
The aronia berry is also a natural inflammatory. Studies have shown it can neutralize a protein in the body known as interleukin-6 (IL-6), which plays a role in inflammation, speeds up the aging process, and contributes to leaky gut syndrome. (I’ve written extensively about IL-6 – read about it here.)
Aronia berries are also the richest known source of anthocyanins, which can be found in the fruit’s particularly high levels of polyphenolic pigment (which accounts for that distinctive, deep purple coloring). In addition, aronia berries have significant levels of folic acid, trace minerals, and vitamins B, C, and E. And on top of that, this berry has potent abilities to kill bacteria and viruses.
Thanks to their ability to cleanse the body of heavy metals and harmful things like radioactive substances, aronia berries play a significant role in reducing cancer risk. Plus, they’re known to prevent heart disease, reduce high blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. But it doesn’t even stop there…
The antidiabetic agents in aronia berries help lower blood sugar and improve insulin production. They also protect the liver against toxins and chemicals, which enables this filtering organ to better regulate metabolic processes in your body.
These berries help support the stomach and stimulate the thyroid, ease gut pain, aid gallstones, lower inflammation in the intestinal lining, and help maintain healthy body weight. (This last reason is why you’ll often see aronia berries included in weight loss products.)
Did I leave anything out? Probably! This stuff is like a drugstore in a berry.
Its fiber helps cut your cancer risk
The aronia berry is loaded with fiber, which is one of the reasons it’s able to ward off cancer. When consumed, that heavy fiber load helps your body slough off food particles that get stuck to your colon. This results in added cancer protection because it prevents toxins from settling in and wreaking havoc.
But because of its wealth of antioxidants, the real benefit of the aronia berry comes from its ability to reduce oxidative stress and diseases associated with it – like cancer. Early results show the anthocyanins from this berry provide a direct benefit to colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic inflammation.
The aronia berry contains other compounds that protect against the development of tumors in the bladder, colon, ovaries, breasts, lungs, and skin. Early studies even show that aronia berries may help slow the growth of brain cancers. The tumor-suppression activity took place at both the early and more advanced stages of tumor development.
And in research at the University of Maryland, several fruits were tested for their healing powers against colon cancer. When compared to bilberries and grapes, the aronia berry had the most potent effect. This, coupled with evidence that aronia berries help with chronic inflammation and that extracts of aronia berry lowered esophageal cancer rates without harming healthy cells, makes a good case for working them into treatment regimens.
An easy “snackable” health treat
Aronia berries are safe for long-term use and appear to have no side effects. But unlike most other small red fruits like strawberries or raspberries, they’re not sweet. To get around the problem, enjoy them mixed with other fruits, such as in a smoothie or pie, or make them into juices, jams or even sauces.
Many grocery stores are starting to carry the fruit, but if you can’t find it at your local store, you can always order the fruit itself online – just do a quick online search for fresh aronia berries, and several specialty farms that ship produce will pop up in your search results. Many farms and suppliers ship “fresh-frozen” aronia berries, meaning they were frozen shortly after being picked.
Dried aronia berries are another option and work great as a healthy, on-the-go snack in trail mix, or steeped in boiling water to make an antioxidant-rich herbal tea.
Another alternative is to take aronia berry supplements. Our sister company, Green Valley Natural Solutions, offers a good aronia supplement called TheraFlex.
Best regards,
Lee Euler,
Publisher
References:
- “Aronia Berries.” Revised October 2013 by Joe M. Hannan, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- “Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) and Their Products as a Possible Means for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases and Unfavorable Health Effects Due to Exposure to Xenobiotics.” By Sylwia Borowska, 2 August 2016.
- “Effects of commercial anthocyanin-rich extracts on colonic cancer and nontumorigenic colonic cell growth.” By Zhao C., et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Oct 6;52(20):6122-8.
- “The Healthiest Fruit in The World, Kills Cancer Cells, Viruses and Slows Aging.” From HealthPedia, published 23 July 2017.
- “What Are the Health Benefits of Aronia (Chokeberries)?” By Dr. Mercola, 7 August 2017.
- “The Anti-Cancer Properties of Aronia (Black Chokeberry).” By FnH - June 30, 2017
- “What Are the Health Benefits of Aronia (Chokeberries)?” By Dr. Mercola, 7 August 2017.
